Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Sometimes I am a little unsure of myself.

I work a normal office job. So I leave in the morning, I come home at dinnertime, like pretty much the rest of the world. I don’t work overtime. I don’t work weekends. I don’t have a super demanding job, yet when 5:00 rolls around some days I just don’t have anything left to give.

Is that normal?

I see other people, others that have a full time job, 6 kids, PTA, shuffling kids from soccer practice, and piano lessons. Then they go workout and take the dog for a walk, cook a five course dinner, do 12 loads of laundry, do the dishes, mow the yard AND have time to watch Grey’s Anatomy.

But here I am, a twenty something that only has to feed two and put dog food in the pups’ bowls and sometimes….well sometimes, even that is asking a lot.

I don’t even feel like it is a matter of being lazy. I really am not a lazy person. (I promise!) But sometimes I just feel kind of defeated. So, I am working on it. One of the ways I am working on it is coming up with 30 minute, one dish meals. Something that is easy, at least semi healthy, with normal ingredients that requires little clean up and prep.

This Super Easy Cheesy Chili Mac fits the bill perfectly.
It uses pantry staples you probably already have, packs a ton of flavor, and is ready in 30 minutes flat.

Hallelujah! Weeknight meals are getting easier already!

So here is how I did it!
Brown some ground beef. I used the super duper lean ground beef, but you can use whatever you prefer. Ground chicken or turkey would also work great here if you really wanted to lighten it up.

I drained the little bit of grease that was in there off and added my spices, chili powder, onion powder, cumin, and garlic salt. Then I tossed in a can of drained and rinsed red beans, and a little chopped green bell pepper. Look at that! Beautiful!

Then I just added one can of tomatoes with green chilies, a can of tomato sauce, and a can of stewed tomatoes. You can use a can of chopped, diced or whole tomatoes here. Or if you’re really crazy just use another can of tomatoes with green chilies. Then add in one cup of water.

Then realize your skillet is too full!

Whoops!

That is okay, we are learning as we go.

So, now you have your meat, bell pepper, spices, beans, various forms of tomatoes, and some water in a pot. Bring it to a nice simmer, then throw in two cups of dry pasta*. Yep, you heard me right just pour two cups of dry pasta from the box straight into your chili. I used penne because it is what I had, but pasta in any shape or form will do. Let your mixture simmer covered over medium low heat for 12 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

At the 12 minute mark check your pasta. Is it done? If it is, turn your burner off add 3/4 cup of cheese and stir it around, then top with your last 1/4 cup of cheese and stick the lid back on for a minute so your cheese melts.

That is it!!

For me, from start to finish, this was a 28 minute meal. Yes, I timed it. And that was with the whole wrong skillet debacle.
So the next time you need dinner in a pinch keep this Super Easy Cheesy Chili Mac in mind!

Heat a dutch oven or large 12 inch pot over medium heat. Brown ground beef, crumble as you go, and drain off as much grease as you can. Add in spices, bell pepper, and the can of drained and rinsed red beans.

Add in the tomatoes with green chilies, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce and water and bring mixture to a simmer.

Pour in the two cups of uncooked pasta.

Cover and let mixture simmer for 12 minutes*, stirring occasionally.

Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, sprinkle the last 1/4 cup over the top, replace the lid for another moment until cheese melts.

*I used Barilla Gluten Free Penne Pasta, the cook time on the box says 10 minutes, this was perfect for me at 12 minutes. I have not made this with any other type of pasta. So, I recommend checking the cook time on the box and checking your pasta for tenderness, as all cook times may vary.